False floor of interlocked metal sections

ABSTRACT

A FALSE FLOORING INCLUDES A PLURALITY OF INTERLOCKING METAL MODULES, EACH HAVING A PAIR OF OUTER LEGS ADAPTED TO BE CONNECTED TO ENGAGE EXISTING FLOORING AND A CENTER LEG WHICH ENGAGES AN EXISTING FLOORING IN RESPONSE TO A LOAD BEING IMPARTED TO THE UPPER MODULE SURFACE. BETWEEN EACH OF THE OUTER LEGS AND THE CENTER LEGS, THERE ARE PROVIDED FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD ARMS HAVING UPWARDLY DEFLECTED ARCS. THE THIRD ARM IS CONNECTED TO THE FIRST AND SECOND ARMS BY A PAIR OF CHANNELS, HAVING SLOPING SIDE WALLS AND A DOWNWARD EXTENT CONSIDERABLY LESS THAN THE LENGTH OF THE LEGS.

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United States Patent O 3,555,762 FALSE FLOOR OF INTERLOCKED METALSECTIONS Nicholas Joseph Costanzo, Jr., Rockville, Md., assignor toAlumiuum Plastic Products Corporation, a corporation of Maryland FiledJuly 8, 1968, Ser. No. 743,084 It. Cl. F04c 1/30 U.S. Cl. 52--588 26*Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A false flooring includes a pluralityof interlocking metal modules, each having a pair of outer legs adaptedto be connected to engage existing flooring and a center leg whichengages an existing flooring in response to a load being imparted to theupper module surface. Between each of the outer legs and the centerlegs, there are provided first, second and third arms having upwardlydeflected arcs. The third arm is connected to the first and second armsby a pair of channels, having sloping side walls and a downward extentconsiderably less than the length of the legs.

The present invention relates generally to flooring and, moreparticularly, to a metal false flooring including a plurality ofinterlocking modules, each of which includes supporting legs and achannel connecting a pair of arms extending from the legs together,wherein the channel is supported solely by the arms and does not extendto an existing flooring.

While metal false floorings have found extensive application in manyenvironments, the cost thereof, as well as the discomfort to personnelstanding thereon, appears to have been a deterrent to their use inretail establishments. In particular, existing metal floorings requirean apprecia'ble amount of metal, causing the price thereof to benoncompetitive with rubber and wooden false floorings frequentlyutilized in supermarkets and bars. A further, apparent, deterrent tometal false floorings in retail establishments has been the discomfortof such floorings to personnel required to stand on them for prolongedtime periods. Discomfort to personnel standing on metal floorings hasbeen the result of designs that have not utilized the metal fiexuralproperties. Generally, it has been thought that if the flexuralproperties of metal were ernployed, the resulting flooring would nothave suflicient strength to withstand loads resulting from personsstanding and walking thereon or heavy articles being dropped.

According to the present invention, a false flooring is provided that isable to sustain the load of a person and/ or heavy object, whileproviding comfort to personnel standing thereon because the fiexureproperties of metals are utilized. In addition, the false flooring ofthe present invention is relatively economical, having a cost on thesame order of magnitude as currently utilized wooden gratings and rubbermats.

The stated economic, load `hearing and comfort features are realized byfabricating the flooring as a plurality of interlocking modules, eachpreferably being a unitary extrusion. Each interlocking module isprovided with downwardly depending leg means connected together byhorizontally extending arms which are joined together by a downwardlyextending channel. The channel has a downward extent considerably lessthan the length of the leg means to minimize the amount of metal andenable the horizontally extending arms to be deflected in response toloading by the weight of a person, while providing strength to thestructure. Additional strength is achieved 3,555,762 Patented Jan. 19,1971 by arcing the arms upwardly and by locating each leg in substantialalignment With an apex of certain of the arcs. The channel includessloping, vertically extending side walls, as well as a horizontallyextending span connecting the walls together, where by an expanson typejoint is effectively formed thereby. A further feature of the slopingvertical walls is that the flooring can be easily cleaned by hosing. Tothis end and to enable liquids falling on the false flooring to bedrained, slotted apertures are provided in each of the channels.

According to another aspect of the invention, additional comfort topersonnel standing on the false flooring is provided by including acenter leg having an extent slightly less than a pair of outer legswhich are connected to engage an existing subflooring when the module isnot loaded. The center leg engages the existing flooring only inresponse to a load being imparted to a particular module and therebyenables the section to be deflected throughout its Width, whilepreventing the elastic limit of the metal comprising the module frombeing exceeded.

Still another feature of the invention resides in the provision of afurther horizontal arm connecting the arms extending from the legstogether. The further arm is connected to the arms extending from thelegs only by a pair of channels to provide additional deflection andminmize expenses. This feature enables the advantages mentioned suprawith regard to strength, fiexure and economy to be achieved; they wouldnot be attained if the further arm were supported by a leg, rather thanthe channels.

According to another feature of the invention, a number of moduleshaving different widths can be assembled to enable a complete flooringto span virtually any predetermined region. In particular, sections canbe formed utilizing the principles of the invention as submultiples ofthe basic flooring described. In accordance with one type of submultipleflooring, `a pair of downwardly depending legs is separated merely by asingle channel section and a pair of arms, while in another embodiment,a pair of channels spans the distance between two legs and three arms.In accordance with still another embodiment, a three-legged submultipleflooring can be provided whereby one of the arced units is removed and asingle channel spans the distance between a pair of legs while theconfiguration between a second pair of legs is the same as subsists inthe conventonal full width module.

According to another aspect of the invention, a sloping leg can beprovided at the end of the flooring. This feature enables hand trucks,for example, to be easily rolled onto the false flooring.

It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide a newand improved false flooring comprising a plurality of interlockingmodules.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved falseflooring that is particularly adaptable for use wheren personnel arerequired to stand for prolonged time periods.

Another object of the invention is to provide a false metal flooringadapted to be utilized in retail establishments wherein economic factorsand comfort to personnel standing on the flooring must be considered.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a metal falseflooring that is defiectable in response to loading by personnel, yet isstrong enough to withstand the loading as well as other forces, and iseconomical.

A further object of the invention is to provide a metal false flooringincluding a multiplicity of extruded modules, having different widthsand substantially the same properties regarding comfort to personnel andstrength.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a metal falseflooring that is adapted to enable hand trucks and the like to be rolledthereon with ease.

The above and still further objects, features and advantages of thepresent invention will become apparent upon consideration of thefollowing detailed description of several specific embodiments thereof,especially when taken in conjunction with the accomparying drawings,wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of one module of a preferred embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a segment of false flooringconstructed of a number of nterlocked modules of the type illustrated byFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of a number of interlocked modules ofthe type illustrated by FIG. 1, wherein the manner by which the modularsections are deflected in response to the application of various forcesthereto is illustrated;

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of a module in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention enabling a hand truck or the like tobe rolled on the false flooring;

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of an embodiment of a submultiple widthunit employing a pair of legs;

FIG. 6 is a side view of another embodiment of a submultiple unitemploying a pair of legs and a pair of channels; and

FIG. 7 is a side view of a submultiple unit embodiment employing threelegs.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings wherein theelongated, extruded aluminum modules are respectively illustrated in across-sectional View at right angles to the direction of elongation andin an assembled perspective view. Typically, each of the modules isfabricated as aluminum extrusion having a thckness of approximately0.078 inch, a width of approximately six inches, a height ofapproximately one inch and a length as great as twenty feet. Each moduleincludes a pair of outer legs 11 and 12 at opposite ends of the moduleand a center leg 13, with each leg having substantially the same lengthso that they all are connected to engage the floor in response to a loadbeing imparted to a particular module.

Extending from left and right legs 11 and 12 towards the center of themodule are horizontal arms 14 and 15, respectively, while arms 16 and 17extend horizontally from leg 13 toward each of the sides of the module.A second pair of horizontally extending arms 18 and 19 is connectedrespectively between arms 14 and 16 and arms 15 and 17. Each ofsupporting arms 14-19, which have substantially coplanar horizontal loadreceiving upper surfaces and are substantially at right angles tovertically extending legs 11-13, is connected to the adjacent arm byfour downwardly extending channels 21 that include vertically extendingside walls 22 and a horizontal span 23 between the side walls. Sidewalls 22 slope from the vertical at an angle of approximately 22 /2degrees to form an expansion joint between the arms and enable the metalflooring to be readily cleaned by hosng. Walls 22 extend vertically toan extent considerably less than the length of legs 11-13 so that theupper surface of span 23 is approximately one-quarter inch from theupper surface of the arm segments to which they are connected. Channels21, in addition to serving as expansion joints for arms 14-19, providestrength to the module by preventing -buckling thereof in response todownwardly exerted forces.

Added strength to the module is provided by upwardly arcing each of arms14-19 so that the arms 14-17 connected to legs 11-13 have apicessubstantially coincident with the corresponding legs while arms 18 and19 have apices coincident with their center lines. Typically, each ofarms 14-19 has an arc defined by a three inch radius that is swungthrough an angle of approximately 18 de- -grees for each of arms 14-17and through an angle of approximately 36 degrees for arms 18 and 19.Thereby,

the assembled modules provide composite arced surfaces covering an angleof substantially 36 degrees.

It is noted that arms 18 and 19 are supported solely by their connectionto arms 14-17 by channels 21. This arrangement enables the falseflooring of the present nvention to be economically constructed andenables each module to be deflected sutficiently in response to loadingby a person standing thereon, whereby fatigue to the legs of the personis materially reduced. If arms 18 and 19 were supported by a leg beneaththem, deflection of the module would be materially reduced and the priceof the unit would be materially increased. In addition, theconfiguration of channels 21, in combination with the arcing or arms14-19, enables the false flooring to have suflicient strength towithstand loads due to personnel walking thereon and objects beingdropped.

To prevent slippage to objects placed on the false flooring of thepresent invention and of persons walking on the flooring, each of arms'14-19 includes a multiplicity of longitudinally extending trangularshaped grooves 24.

To enable the floor modules to be cleaned and allow moisture which maybe spilled on the module to escape therefrom, each of channels 21includes a multiplicity of elongated apertures 25. Apertures 25 arepunched at suitable intervals along the length of horizontal span 23 ineach of channels 2 1 on center lires defined by grooves 24. It has beenfound that apertures having a length on the order of three-quarters ofan inch and a width of approximately one-quarter of an inch enableliquid to escape from the flooring while substantially preventing thepassage of coins which may be inad- Vertently dropped on the flooring.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 the several modules are adapted to be lockedtogether. To this end, each of legs 12 includes a lower extension 26 anda tongue 27 extending from the right side thereof, as illustrated in thefigures. At the end of extension 26 is provided upwardly extendinglocking lug 28 which is adapted to receive straight tail dog 29extending from the right side of leg 11. Downwardly depending tongue 27is adapted to engage the upper surface of downwardly depending seat 31,which extends between the upper end of leg 11 and the apex of arm 14. Apair of modules is nterlocked by means of a pler-lke tool so that thebottom surface of straight tail dog 29 securely engages the uppersurface of extension 26 and the tapered end of the dog digs into theupwardly extending portion of looking lug 28 while tongue 27 and seat`31 are in engagement. The intersection point between two adjacentsections is such that the apex of the arced section between arms 14 and15 is coincident with the intersection point. Thereby, to the casualobserver of a completely assembled false floor, the separate modulesappear as a unitary construction and it is diflicult to perceive theconnections between the various modular sections.

To maintain the lower extremities of legs '11 and 12 in a single planein contact with an existing flooring '32, FIG. 3, leg 11 isapproximately 0.058 inch shorter than leg 12, whereby the former leg isconnected to the existing flooring through the leg 12 of the adjacentsection. Thereby, the outer legs of each module arefirmly connected toan existing flooring so that stability of the false flooring subsists.Each of the modular units has suflicient flexural properties so that theouter legs of the modules are connected to the existing flooring even ifthe flooring is uneve-n. For the same reason, an end module, such asleft section 33 in FIG. 3, has the leg 11 thereof connected to anexisting flooring after a short period of use.

To enable each module to be deflected in response to loading bypersonnel, so that person-nel standing on the flooring will not sufferfrom excessive leg fatigue, center leg 13 is not long enough to beconnected to existing flooring 32 unless the module is loaded by aperson. To this end, center leg 13 is approxmately 0.078 inch shorterthan leg 12, a distance approxmately equal to the thickness of the metalextrusion. To prevent leg 13 from digging into the existing flooring 32and to provide added strength to the bottom of the center leg, outwardlyextending foot 34 is provided at the bottom thereof.

To describe the mamer by which modules of the present invention aredeflected in response to exemplary loads, specific consideration is nowgiven to FIG. 3 of the drawings. In FIG. 3, loads indicated by arrows 35and 36 are respectively appled to locked modular sections 37 and 38.Load 35 is appled to section 37 at a point aligned `with leg '13, whileload 36 is appled to section 38 on the center line of arm 19. Inresponse to each of the loads, center legs 13 of sections 37 and 38 aredefiected downwardly to engage existing flooring 32.

Arms 18 and 19 of section 37 are deflected downwardly from the left andright sides thereof, as viewed in the figures, while the channelsconnected to the left and right edges of arms 18 and 19 are notsubstantially defiected. The deflection of arms 18 and 19- increasessubstantially to the right and left edges thereof, while the channels 21connectng arms 18 and ?19 with arms 16 and 17 are substantiallydeflected, as are center arms 16 and 17. The expansion properties of thechannels 21 connectng arms 16-19 together are to be noted.

With regard to deflection of module 38 in response to the force 36, itis noted that arm 15 pivots about the left edge of leg 12 and that thechannel 21 connectng arms 16 and 18 together is pivoted about theintersection point of the left side of wall 22 with horizontal span 23.From the expansion properties of channel 21 between arms 16 and 18,relative comfort is imparted to the legs of personnel standing onmodular section 38 and imparting the force designated by arrow 36. Afterthe forces indicated by arrows 35 and 36 have been released, the modularfloor sections have sufficent elasticity to spring back to the sameposition as indicated by FIG. 1.

In a typical application wherein personnel wearing flat shoes stands onthe flooring of the present invention, the foot of the person extendsover a pair of the channels onto at least a pair of the arcuate surfacesdefined by arms 14-19. This result is achieved by providing a horizontalspan to each of the channels of approxmately one-quarter of an inch andforming each composite arcuate surface formed by arms 14-19 with a totalspan of approxmately one inch. These dimensions enable personnelstanding on the flooring to have relatively significant air spacesbetween a portion of their shoes, while preventing tripping.

In many instances, it is desirable to provide a sloping side to the endof the false flooring of the present invention. The embodiment of FIG. 4enables such a result to be attained by providing a pair of legs 41 and42, separated by a generally horizontal, curving section 43 connectngthe legs together. Leg 41 is horizontal and is formed in exactly thesame manner as described supra with regard to leg 11, while leg 42 isillustrated as being inclined to the horizontal by an angle of 60. Inthe alternative, to provide greater ease in enabling hand trucks to berolled onto the false flooring, leg 42 can be sloped at an angle ofapproxmately 45. The alternative Construction, however, has thedisadvantage of reducing the strength of the extended unit of FIG. 4.Typically, the extended unit of FIG. 4 is merely a slight appendage tothe last three-legged unit of the type illustrated by FIG. l. Thereby,the horizontal extent of arm 43 is generally on the order of one inchand the horizontal projection of leg 42 is approxmately of an inch.

In certain areas, the three-legged, full width, six inch extrusion ofFIG. 1 does not provide the required amount of false flooring. To enablethe false flooring of the present invention to be utilized withvirtually any sized area, the embodiments of FIGS. 5-7 were developed.In the embodiments of FIGS. 5-7, the same principles as are utilized inthe embodiment of FIG. 1 are employed.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5, a pair of downwardly depending legs 44 and45 is connected to each other by arms 46 and 47 and channel 48. Thedimensions of legs 44 and 45 are identical with the dimensions of legs11 and 12 of the full width unit of FIG. 1, while the dimensions ofelements 46, 47 and 48 are respectively the same as the dimensions ofelements 14, 15 and 21 in the FIG. 1 embodiment. Thereby, with theembodiment of FIG. 5, an extension of approxmately two inches isprovided at the end of a full width six inch module.

With the module of FIG. 6, a three inch submultiple width span isprovided by including a pair of vertically extending legs 51 and 52between which are provided arms 53-55 and channels 56 and 57. Legs 51and 52 are constructed and dimensioned identically with legs 11 and 12of the embodiment of FIG. 1, while arms 53, 54 and 55 are equivalentwith arms 14, 18 and 15, respectively of the full span embodiment.Similarly, channels 56 and 57 are identical with channels 21 in FIG. 1.

A submultiple extension having a span of 4 /2 inches is provided by theembodiment of FIG. 7. In the embodiment of FIG. 7, three downwardlydepending legs 61, 62 and 63 are provided, which legs are equivalentwith legs 11, 12 and 13 in the previously described full span embodimentof FIG. 1. Between legs 61 and 63, the extrusion is identical with thecross section of the FIG. 1 embodiment between legs 11 and 13, while thefalse flooring between legs 62 and 63 includes arms 64 and 65, as wellas channel 66. Arms 64 and 65 are dimensioned identically with the arms17 and 15, respectively, of FIG. 1, While channel 66 is equivalent tochannel 21.

The various submultiple false flooring sections of FIGS. 5-7 providemany of the attributes of the full false flooring of FIG. 1. Inparticular, the configurations of FIGS. 6 and 7 provide comfort topersonnel standing thereon since there is substantial deflection betweena pair of legs thereof. While the relatively small sections on the rightside of FIG. 7 and in the embodiment of FIG. 5 do not provide thecomfort to personnel as is attained with the embodiment of FIG. 1, thesesections are of relatively small span and personnel do not walk thereonto any great extent. In addition, the sections are of sufficently narrowspan as to preclude an entire foot from being placed thereon.

The sloping section of FIG. 4 can be added to either the full spanmodule of FIG. 1 or any of the submultiple span modules of FIGS. 5-7, asspecifically illustrated in FIG. 6. Thereby, various combinations of thesloping section and the full and submultiple modules can be attained asthe requirements of a particular area dictate.

While there have been described and illustrated several specificembodiments of the invention, it will be clear that variations in thedetails of the embodiments specifically illustrated and described may bemade without departing from the true spirit and scope of the inventionas defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A false flooring adapted to be laid on an existing floor comprising apluraility of elongated metal sections adapted to be interlocked, eachof said sections having a cross-sectional shape through a plane at rightangles to the direction of elongation in the form of: first and secondlegs respectively positioned substantially at opposite ends of thesection, a center leg, first and second separate, substantiallyhorizontal supporting arms respectively extending at substantially rightangles from each of said first and second legs, third and fourthsubstantially horizontal arms extending in opposite directions from saidcenter leg, each of said arms having substantially coplanar loadreceiving surfaces, each of said legs extending in the verticaldirection away from each of said arms by substantially the same extenttoward the existing floor, and downwardly extending channel meansseparately connecting said arms together and being suspended betweensaid legs to form an expansion joint in response to a load being appliedto an arm.

2. The flooring of claim 1 further including fifth and sixthsubstantially horizontal arms, said channel means comprising first,second third and fonrth channels, said first channel connecting saidfirst and fifth arms together, said second channel connecting said thirdand fifth arms together, said third channel connecting said fourth andsixth arms together, and said fourth channel connecting said second andsixth arms together, said fifth and sixth arms being supported only bysaid channels and having load receving surfaces substantially coplanarwith the load receiving surfaces of said other arms.

3. The flooring of claim 2 wherein each of said arms is in the form ofan arc having a curvature extending away from the floor.

4. The flooring of claim 3 wherein each of said channels includes a pairof sloping vertical walls.

5. A false flooring adapted to be laid on an existing floor comprising aplurality of elongated metal sections adapted to be nterlocked, each ofsaid sections having a cross-sectional shape through a plane at rightangles to the direction of elongation in the form of: first and secondlegs respectively positioned substantially at opposite ends of thesection, a center leg, first and second separate, substantiallyhorizontal supporting arms respectively extending at substantially rightangles from each of said first and second legs, third and fourthsubstantially horizontal arms extending in opposite directions from saidcenter leg, each of said arms having substantially coplanar loadreceiving surfaces, each of said legs extending in the verticaldirection away from each of said arms by substantially the same extenttoward the existing floor, and downwardly extending channel meansseparately connecting said arms together, said channel means extendingvertically away from said arms by a distance substantially less than theextent of said legs away from said arms, fifth and sixth substantiallyhorizontal arms, said channel means comprising first, second third andfourth channels, said first channel connecting said first and fifth armstogether, said second channel connecting said third and fifth armstogether, said third channel connecting said fourth and sxth armstogether, and said fourth channel connecting said second and sixth armstogether, said fifth and sixth arms being supported only by saidchannels and having load receiving surfaces substantially coplanar withthe load receiving surfaces of said other arms, each of said arms beingin the form of an arc having a curvature extending away from the floor,each of said channels including a pair of sloping vertical walls, andwherein each of said channels includes a horizontal span connecting saidwalls together.

6. The flooring of claim 5 wherein each of said spans includes amultiplicity of apertures.

7. The flooring of claim 5 wherein said first and second legs areconnected to engage the floor whether the section is loaded or unloaded,said center leg having a length such that it is connected to engage thefloor only in response to the section being loaded.

8. A false flooring adapted to be laid on an existing floor comprising aplurality of enlongated metal sections adapted to be nterlocked, each ofsaid sections having a cross-sectional shape through a -plane at rightangles to the direction of elongation in the form of first and secondlegs respectively positioned substantially at opposite ends of thesection, a center leg, first and second separate, substantiallyhorizontal supporting arms respectively extending at substantially rightangles from each of said first and second legs, third and fourthsubstantially horizontal arms extending in opposite directions from saidcenter leg, each of said arms having substantially coplanar loadreceiving surfaces, each of said legs extending in the Verticaldirection away from each of said arms by substantially the same extenttoward the existing floor, and downwardly extending channel meansseparately connecting said arms together, said channel means extendingvertically away from said arms by a distance substantially less than theextent of said legs away from s id arms, fifth and sixth substantiallyhorizontal arms, said channel means comprising first, second, third andfourth channels, said first channel connecting said first and fifth armstogether, said second channel connecting said third and fifth armstogether, said third channel connecting said fourth and sixth armstogether, and said fourth channel connecting said second and sixth armstogether, said fifth and sixth arms being supported only by saidchannels and having load receiving surfaces substantially coplanar withthe load receiving surfaces of said other arms, each of said arms beingin the form of an rc having a curvature extending away from the floor,and wherein each of said arcs has an apex, the apices of the arcs ofsaid first and second arms being substantially aligned with the firstand second legs, respectively, the apices of the arcs of said third andfourth arms both being aligned with said center leg, the apices of thearcs of said fifth and sixth arms being in the centers of the respectivearms.

9. The flooring of claim 1 wherein each of said arms is in the form ofan arc having a curvature extending away from the floor.

10. The flooring of claim 9 wherein each of said channels includes apair of sloping vertical walls.

11. A false flooring adapted to be laid on an existing floor comprisinga plurality of elongated metal sections adapted to be nterlocked, eachof said sections having a cross-sectional shape through a plane at rightangles to the direction of elongation in the form of: first and secondlegs respectively positioned substantially at opposite ends of thesection, a center leg, first and second separate, substantiallyhorizontal supporting arms respectively extending at substantially rightangles from each of said first and second legs, third and fourthsubstantially horizontal arms extending in opposite directions from saidcenter leg, each of said arms having substantially coplanar loadreceiving surfaces, each of said legs extending in t e verticaldirections away from each of said arms by substantially the same extenttoward the existing floor, and downwardly extending channel meansseparately connecting said arms together, said channel means extendingvertically away from said arms by a distance substantially less than theextent of said legs away from said arms, each of said arms being in theform of an arc having a curvature extending away from the existingfloor, each of said channels including a pair of sloping vertical walls,and wherein each of said channels includes a horizontal span connectingsaid walls together.

12. The flooring of claim 11 wherein said first and second legs areconnected to engage the floor whether the section is loaded or unloaded,said center leg having a length such that it is connected to engage thefloor only in response to the section being loaded.

13. A false flooring adapted to be laid on an existing floor comprisinga plurality of elongated metal sections adapted to be nterlocked, eachof said sections having a cross-sectional shape through a plane at rightangles to the direction of elongation in the form of: first and secondlegs respectively positioned substantially at opposite ends of thesection, a center leg, first and second separate, substantiallyhorizontal supporting arms respectively extending at substantially rightangles from each of said first and second legs, third and fourthsubstantially horizontal arms extending in opposite directions from saidcenter leg, each of said arms having substantially coplanar loadreceiving surfaces, each of said legs extending in the verticaldirection away from each of said arms by substantially the same extenttoward the existing floor, and downwardly extending channel meansseparately connecting said arms together, said channel means extendingvertically away from said arms by a distance substantially less than theextent of said legs away from said arms, each of said arms being in theform of an arc having a curvature extending away from the floor, andwherein each of said arcs has an apex, the apices of the arcs of saidfirst and second arms being substantially aligned with the first andsecond legs, respectively, the apices of the arcs of said third andfourth arms both being aligned with said center leg.

14. A false flooring adapted to be laid on an existing floor comprisinga plurality of elongated metal sections adapted to be nterlocked, eachof said sections having a cross-sectional shape through a plane at rightangles to the direction of elongation in the form of: first and secondlegs respectively positioned substantially at opposite ends of thesection, a center leg, first and second separate, substantiallyhorizontal supporting arms respectively extending at' substantiallyright angles from each of said first and second legs, third and fourthsubstantially horizontal arms extending in opposite directions from saidcenter leg, each of said arms having substantially coplanar loadreceiving surfaces, each of said legs extending in the verticaldirection away from each of said arms by substantially the same extendtoward the existing floor, and downwardly extending channel meansseparatelyconnecting said arms together, said channel means extendingvrtically away from said arms by a distance substantially less than theextent of said legs away from said arms and wherein said first andsecond legs are connected to engage the floor whether the section isloaded or unloaded, said center leg having a length such that it isconnected to engage the floor only in response to the section beingloaded.

15. A false flooring laid on an existing horizontal floor comprising aplurality of elongated, interlocked metal sections, each of saidsections having a crosssectional shape through a plane at right anglesto the direction of elongation in the for-m of: first and second legsrespectively positioned substantially at opposite ends of the section,first and second separate, substantially horizontal supporting armsrespectively extending at substantially right angles from each of saidfirst and second legs, each of said arms having substantially coplanar,horizontally extending load receiving surfaces, each of said legsextending in the vertical direction away from each of said arms bysubstantially the same extent toward the existing floor, one of saidlegs being in contact with the floor, and downwardly extending channelmeans separately connecting said arms together and being Suspendedbetween said legs to form an expansion joint in response to a load beingapplied to an arm.

16. The flooring of claim further including another substantiallyhorizontal arm substantially coplanar with said first and second arms,and wherein said channel means connects said first and second arms tosaid another arm.

17. The flooring of claim 16 wherein each of said arms is in the form ofan arc having a curvature extending away from the floor.

18. The flooring of claim 17 wherein said channel means includes a pairof sloping vertical walls.

1'9. The flooring of claim 16 whrein said channel means includes a pairof sloping vertical walls.

20. The flooring of claim 15 wherein said channel means includes a pairof sloping vertical walls.

21. The flooring of claim 15 wherein there is provided a furthersection, said further section having a downwardly extending leg having asubstantial slope on one side thereof.

22. The flooring of claim 15 wherein said channel means includes a pairof sloping vertical walls and a horizontal span connecting said wallstogether.

23. The flooring of claim 15 wherein each of said arms is in the form ofan arc having a curvature extending away from the floor, each of saidarcs having an apex, the apices of the arcs of said first and secondarms being substanltially aligned with the first and second legs,respective y.

24. A false flooring adapted to be laid on an existing floor comprisinga plurality of elongated metal sections adapted to be nterlocked, eachof said sections having a cross-sectional shape through a plane at rightangles to the direction of elongation in the form of: first and secondlegs respectively positioned substantially at opposite ends of thesection, a center leg located between said first and second legs,substantially horizontal and coplanar load bearing arm means extendingsubstantially at right angles from each of said legs, and downwardlyextending expansion joint means for connecting each of said arm meansand legs together and being Suspended between said legs, each of saidlegs extending in the vertical direction away from each of said armmeans by substantially the same extent toward the existing floor.

25. The flooring of claim 24 wherein said first and second legs areconnected to engage the floor whether `the section is loaded orunloaded, said center leg having a length such that it is connected toengage the floor nly in response to the section being loaded.

26. A false flooring adapted to be laid on an existing floor comprisinga plurality of elongated metal sections adapted to be nterlocked, eachof said sections having a cross-sectional shape through a plane at rightangles to the direction of elongation in the form of first and secondlegs respectively positioned substantially at opposite ends of thesection, a center leg located between said first and second legs,substantially horizontal and coplanar load hearing arm means extendingsubstantially at right angles from each of said legs, and downwardlyextending expansion joint means for connecting each of said arm meansand legs together, said first and second legs being connected to engagethe floor whether the section is loaded or unloaded, said center leghaving a length such that it is connected to engage the floor only inresponse to the section being loaded.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,321,873 6/1943 Tate 52-5733,056,233 10/1962 McNulty 52-573 3,323,269 6/1967 Widdowson 52-5733,452,500 7/1969 Heirich 52-489 2,076,505 4/1937 Schaffert 94-182,265,735 12/1941 Lambert 94-5 2,753,018 7/1956 Curell 52-588X 2,832,3004/1958 Jacobson 52--542X 3,046,852 7/1962 Graham 52-588X 3,253,3715/1966 Honold 52-588 3,347,01O 10/1967 Richter 52-588 3,4l6,27 8 12/1968Swenck 52-588 3,420,0l5 1/1969 Costanzo 52--180 FOREIGN PATENTS 676,6951929 France 52-180 JOHN E. MURTAGH, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R.52-177

